Garfield Farm Museum Calendar

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A major event in the Fall at Garfield Farm is Harvest Days which feature demonstration of pioneer farming skills like the candle making shown here as well as a sheep dog demonstration, black smithing, and displays of farm and home items. There is also a story teller and guided walk through the farm prairie areas.

2009 Schedule of Events

Printable Schedule - Adobe Acrobat pdf format

2009 Tour Season: June-thru September on Wednesdays & Sundays, 1-4 PM
All other times by appointment year round. (630) 584-8485
Scout groups welcome! Special classes for badges may be requested.

Natural Area Management Seminar
Feb 21 8am-4:30pm. Learn how to restore and manage prairie, woodlands and wetlands. Reservations $45.

Antique Apple Tree Grafting Seminar
March 8 1:30 pm. Make three grafts of antique apple trees to take home for planting. Reservations $25.

Fox Valley 52st Annual Antique Show
March 14th & 15th Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-4pm. Produced by Chicago Suburban Antiques Dealers Association (CSADA). To Benefit Garfield Farm Museum. At Kane Co Fairgrounds. $8.

Felting Workshop
March 21 10am-2:30pm.The Felting Class combines a traditional craft with its contemporary version to make your own miniature art work. Reservations required. Lunch included. $40

Museum Awards Banquet
April TBA 6pm–9pm. Annual dinner at the historic Dunham Woods Riding Club. Reservations required.

Prairie Walk
April 18 1-4pm Tour the prairie with museum staff. Reservations required. $6.

CSA Farm Lecture
May 3 2pm. Erehwon farmer, Tim Fuller, gives a talk on organic farming and what it means today. Lecture will be concluded with a tour of Erehwon’s operation at Mongerson Farm. Reservations required. $5.

Rare Breeds Show
May 17 11am-4pm. Breeders from around the Midwest display rare and historic types of livestock. Individual breeders may offer livestock and poultry for sale. Member participation by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. $6/$3.

Prairie Walk
May 23 9am-Noon. Tour the prairie with museum staff. Reservations required. $6.

Beekeeping Lecture
May 31 2pm Learn the basics about beekeeping from the museum’s volunteer beekeeper. Reservations required. Amount TBD.

1840’s Days
June 27 & 28 10am-4pm. Step back in time and learn about farm life in the 1840’s during this two day event. Activities will include tavern tours, prairie walks, and period demonstrations. $6/$3.

Garfield Farm Camps
July 7-9 or July 21-23. 9am-Noon. During these three day camps, children ages 8-11 years old will learn about farm life in the 1840’s. Activities include; feeding animals, museum and prairie tours, and hands on demonstrations. Reservations required. $75 each camp.

Prairie Walk
July 18 Time TBA. Tour the prairie with museum staff. Reservations required. $6.

Contra Dance & Dinner Fundraiser
July 18 6pm-9pm. Help support the farm with a night of dinner and dancing. Live music and a dance caller will be present for people to participate in historic dances. Reservations required. $75.

Antique Tool Show & Sale
Aug 2 9am-1pm. Members of the Midwest Tool Collectors Association and the Early American Industries Association display, trade and sell antique and collectable tools. $5/$2.

Barns 101
Aug 9 2pm. Staff member, Dave Bauer, will provide an overview of historic barns followed by a guided tour of the museum’s barns. Reservations required. $5.

Heirloom Garden Show
Aug 23 11am-4pm. Rare and specialty fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs are displayed and sold by Midwestern growers. Member participation by Seed Savers Exchange. $6/$3.

Buckskin Tanning
Aug 29 8:30am-4:30pm. Spring DeLeon will conduct a class and demonstration on buckskin tanning practices of the pioneer times. Make and take home your own buckskin. Lunch provided. Reservations required. $35.

Ox Driving
Sept TBA 9am-3pm. Work with the farm’s all-star oxen to learn beginning grooming, yoking and driving of single ox and ox teams. Reservations required. Lunch included. $60.

Prairie Walk
Sept 19 9am-Noon. Tour the prairie with museum staff. Reservations required. $6.

Corn 101
Sept 20 Time TBA. Museum volunteer Chuck Bauer, will give a lecture on the history of corn. There will be discussion of the type used in the 1840’s and how farmers manipulated corn to create the variety we have today. Reservations required. $5.

Student Harvest Days
Oct 2 9am-2 pm. Museum volunteers demonstrate 19th century living to school children. Limit of 600 students by advanced reservations. $5/$4.

Harvest Days
Oct 4 11:30am-4 pm. Join museum volunteers in this celebration of the season. Continuous demonstrations of farm and household skills, 19th century music and food. $6/$3.

Emergence of Electricity Lecture
Nov 1 2pm. GHS Board, Vice-President, Keith Letsche, will talk about Samuel Morse’s telegraph and the emergence of electricity in the 1840’s. $5.

Volunteer Party
Nov 8 3-6 pm. For all those who helped out at the farm, a pot-luck with photos and awards make for a fun social afternoon.

Prairie Bandits Lecture
Nov 15 2pm. Learn about the prairie bandits that operated in the Midwest in the 1830’s and 40’s. Reservations required. $5

Candlelight at the Inn
Dec 5 & 6 3-7pm. Experience the tradition of winter visits as practiced by families like the Garfields in their 1846 Brick Inn. Hospitality, food, music and bake-sale. Donations accepted.

Homespun Holiday Market
Dec 5 & 6 12-7 pm. Come and enjoy the work of local crafters and artisans at this 4th annual event, held in conjunction with Candlelight. Proceeds of the craft & art sales go to Garfield Farm.

For more information about Garfield Farm send an e-mail message to: info@garfieldfarm.org or call 630/584-8485.

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